Cooks With Books Blog

Last week, we gathered to celebrate the natal day of one of our favourite classic chefs, Michel Roux.

It was Michel's 75th birthday, and our guests were treated to a special evening of fine dining and reminiscing about the times we have been fortunate enough to have Michel visit our shop. Barbara-jo read a letter from the chef himself, recounting his life, decade by decade, and Chef Max Straczek, of Fable Restaurant, devised the following special menu from Michel's books:

First course: Feuillets d'Huitres tieds aux Framboises

Second course: Ouefs Brouilles aux points d'Asperges et au crab

Third course: Soup de Moules

Fourth course: Pave de Boeuf a l'ancienne

Fifth course: Chocolat Fondant.

This dinner was the first in a new series designed to celebrate the chefs who have impacted both the culinary and cookery book world. In honour of the rich culinary legacy these chefs have given us, we will dine on meals inspired by their lives and books. *

We have three more of these dinners already posted to our website (listed below), and will be posting more as the year unfolds. We hope you will be able to join us in celebrating around our table. *

Until next time,

Your friendly neighbourhood cookery bookshop,

Barbara-Jo's Books to Cooks

Darina Allen

Saturday, July 30, 12 - 2 pm

Today we celebrate Darina Allen's birthday with a delicious lunch cooked by Chef Adrienne O'Callaghan, our first in-shop resident chef. Adrienne trained at Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland, founded by Darina and her brother in 1983, and will share stories of her time there, in addition to demonstrating our lunch. Click here for more information.

Julia Child

Monday, August 15, 6-8 pm

If you've been to our shop, one of the first things you might notice is the lovely photo of Julia Child celebrating her 90th birthday. Tonight, Chef Adrienne O'Callaghan will present us with a delightful menu taken from an assortment of Julia's books and we will celebrate in Julia's favourite way: eating and drinking. Click here for more information.

Auguste Escoffier

Friday, October 28, 6 - 8 pm

Tonight we dine in honour of Auguste Escoffier, born on October 28, 1846, and possibly the most celebrated chef in history. This French chef and restaurateur was known as the "King of Chefs, Chef of Kings". His motto was "faites simple" (do it simple) and his many books are still revered by chefs worldwide. To celebrate this culinary great, Chef Max Straczek will cook a classic French meal inspired by Escoffier's books. Click here for more information.